PHOTO: THIRDEYERAZ
For his first full-length project of 2024, Kota bookends a prominent chapter of his career with Lyrics to GO, Vol. 5. Previous iterations have captivated fans through Kota’s potent lyricism, and unique brand of chill, approachable aesthetics. Vol. 5 provides the same vibrant storytelling, with an elevated level of production credits. Listen to LTGV5 here.
““I was the first hip-hop artist to add captions to my videos. It was important because I knew that my lyrical ability was my best attribute as a rapper,” said Kota, when asked about the significance of the series. “I needed a way to draw people into my content. Before I started Lyrics to GO I didn’t see one single music video with subtitles. But it very quickly became a trend in my community and other communities. The first Lyrics to GO episode dropped on November 16, 2016.”
The new album opens with a heavy dose of meticulously layered instrumentation from Hit-Boy, who produced both tracks “Beijing” and “TULUM.” From there, the rest of Vol. 5 plays out like a trip down memory lane. Kota’s recurring proclivity to include locations in song titles remains intact, evidenced by tracks like “MILAN,” “YUMA,” “OREGON” and “VIETNAM.” He embraces vulnerability and emotional depth in his music – and his new album is a processing of times and places, observed and felt.
“Hit-Boy is a top-tier producer for sure, so to have him on Beijing and Tulum is an honor. And the fact that he’s been so active in producing projects for Nas made working with him even more appealing. Nas is an artist I admired growing up, and I continue to appreciate his lyricism and his business sense. He is definitely an artist I would love to work with,” Kota added.
Check out the featureless, fifth installment of Kota’s Lyrics to GO series today and stay tuned for details on his forthcoming Lyrics to GO Tour.
1 - BEIJING
Produced by Hit Boy
2 - TULUM
Produced by Hit Boy
3 - BIG BEAR
Produced by Sango
4 - MILAN
Produced by Exile
5 - BACKSTAGE IN MINNEAPOLIS
Produced by Kota the Friend
6 - ALABAMA HILLS
Produced by Kota the Friend
7 - YUMA
Produced by Exile
8 - EVERGREEN
Produced by Kota the Friend
9 - VIENNA
Produced by Statik Selektah
10 - OREGON
Produced by Kota the Friend
11 - VIETNAM
Produced by Exile
12 - ROBBEN ISLAND
Produced by Kota the Friend
